Celeb babies, in their own right

RUPI Photo/Landov

Music legend James Taylor is living large — kid style! A father to his 7-year-old twins Henry and Rufus and a grandfather to 16-month-old Bodhi, whose mom is James’ daughter Sally, the singer has babies on the brain. While he shares that having twins makes life “easier than having two kids of different ages — you basically just do everything twice” — he admits that nothing compares to having grandchildren!

“Kids are kids, but any grandfather will tell you — you get to hand them back to their parents when you’re tired. When you’ve got your own, you’ve got them all the time.”

The daughter of two classic singer/songwriters — her mom is Carly Simon — Sally shares that her parents have constantly encouraged her to follow her dreams, something she says has worked well for her family. “To continuously do what your heart tells you to do is something that they’re both products of,” she explains. “If I can continue to do that, I think I’ll probably be in good standing.”

Getting her parents seal of approval is important for Sally and the first-time mom received two thumbs up when she revealed to her parents the name of her baby boy. Recalling that “they both really loved it,” Sally explains that the zen-like name worked well for her parents. “My dad’s all about vowels and consonant sounds and being able to call someone like Bodhi…that was perfect for him,” she says. “My mom just loved the concept of the magical spirituality of it.”

As for Sally and her husband Dean Bragonier, their frequent travels to Southeast Asia inspired the “exotic” moniker, which is derived from Buddhism.

“Bodhi is the tree that the Buddha was enlightened under, and in Buddhism, Bodhi is someone who doesn’t need to incarnate again, but incarnates for the compassion of helping others to achieve enlightenment. Bodhi’s fatwa is way too long and way to heavy. You just don’t want to burden your son with the heavy load of having to become a Buddhist monk, so what are you going to do?”

Henry and Rufus are James’ boys with his wife Caroline ‘Kim’ Smedvig.

Source: OK!

Kristin Callahan/Everett

Although he signed on to portray his late father Christopher Wallace — better known as the rapper Notorious B.I.G. – in the new film Notorious, Christopher ‘CJ’ Wallace Jr., 12, wants you to know that he’s his own (little!) man. “I don’t want to be known as ‘Little Biggie,’” he tells the Times Online in a new interview. “It’s nice that I have a famous father, and that I get a reputation through him, but I don’t want people saying ‘Hey there goes Biggie’s son, that’s Biggie’s son!’”

“It’s, like, no, my friends call me CJ.”

Preparing for the role was challenging in that CJ’s father died when he was just five months old; To assist him in his efforts, he enlisted the help of those who knew B.I.G. the best, like his mom — CJ’s grandmom — Violetta Wallace. “Most people know Biggie Smalls, but few of them know the real Christopher Wallace,” CJ says. “My grandma … taught me a lot more about my father, the things he would do, and how he was around people.” Some aspects of his dad’s life remained off-limits to CJ longer than others, however! “I wasn’t allowed to listen to him when I was younger, because the lyrics were too explicit,” CJ admits. “He curses a lot.”

“But as I got to nine and ten I really got to know all of the songs. I just listened. Listened to his lyrics and to what he was talking about.”

With his performance receiving critical acclaim, CJ says he’s in no hurry to proclaim himself an actor or a rapper. “Everyone’s saying to me, ‘Oh CJ, you should get an agent and a manager and do this and do that, but I have so many options now,’” he says. “I just want to finish school and maybe get into sports.”

Notorious is in theaters now.

Source: Times Online

INF

Carolina Herrera Jr., daughter of top fashion designer Carolina Herrera, and her husband Miguel Baez have welcomed their third child. The couple’s second daughter, Atalanta, was born on Wednesday, November 19th at Clínica Rúber in Madrid, Spain.

The new baby girl joins big sister Olimpia de la Concepcion, 3 ½, and big brother Miguel, 2.

Miguel had slipped and leaked the pregnancy during an event in Spain in April. Later that month, the couple revealed their decision to opt for a delivery surprise.

Source: Park Avenue Peerage

Thanks to CBB reader Joanna.

Juan Rico/Fame

One of Hollywood’s celebrity kids is about to take part in the remake of 1984’s hit movie The Karate Kid. Jaden Smith, the 10-year-old son of actors Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith, has signed on to star in the film which will begin filming next year in Beijing, China and other cities. Jaden is no stranger to the big screen, having starred alongside his father in The Pursuit of Happyness. His new film, The Day the Earth Stood Still, is currently in post-production and is scheduled to be released on December 18th.

Jada recently spoke about allowing Jaden and his 8-year-old sister Willow to act and explained that, "they’ve grown up on movie backlots, so it didn’t surprise me at all when they wanted to get into acting. It’s in their blood."

Source: Variety

Mom-to-be Lisa Marie Presley stepped out in a patterned maxi dress and hoop earrings as she left The Little Door restaurant on Saturday with pal Pink. Lisa Marie, 40, who was believed to be attending her baby shower, is said to be expecting twins in early September (however, reps remain mum). These will be her first children with husband Michael Lockwood — she is already mom to Danielle Riley, 19, and Benjamin Storm, 15, from a previous marriage.

Photo by RS/PR/Kristian/Flynet.

The preschooler approach to life is one that Bindi Irwin admires. In a new interview with The Courier-Mail, Bindi says that her 4 ½-year-old brother Robert ‘Bob’ Clarence’s ability to "live one day at a time" and not worry "about what will happen in the future" is something she finds refreshing. "He just likes to play with his chickens and revels in the moment," Bindi says, "which is a good way to be."  She adds,

People are always worrying about what might happen tomorrow when it’s what happens today that counts.

As she approaches her 10th birthday on Thursday, Bindi can barely contain her enthusiasm. She tells the newspaper "double digits means double the fun which is so exciting." Another thing Bindi clearly finds exciting is wildlife conservation, and she says she’s happy to use her celebrity status as the daughter of the late Steve Irwin to draw attention to the cause. Says Bindi,

Being well known is a way of getting the conservation message out, which is really nice.

Bindi and Bob’s mom is Terri Irwin, 44.

Source: The Courier Mail; Photo by Bauer Griffin.

Tom Cruise hit the big leagues with his film Top Gun in 1986, where he portrayed a Naval aviator who aspires to be a top fighter pilot. Now, it appears as if the 46-year-old’s son Connor Antony is trying to be just like his dad.

The 13 ½-year-old is currently taking flying lessons at a Burbank, CA airfield, where he was spotted this past Saturday afternoon practicing on a Cessna 172 Skyhawk with an instructor.

While Connor is old enough to start testing his flight skills, he will not able to obtain a license until he reaches age 16 as per the Federal Aviation Administration.

Connor’s mom is new celebrity mom Nicole Kidman.

Source: E! Online; Photo by Flynet.

Emma Roberts, the 17-year-old daughter of Eric Roberts and niece of Julia Roberts, has been acting since the age of nine, however, TV Guide believes she is about to become a break out performer.  The magazine has ranked the Nancy Drew star among their top 13 young up-and-comers in the entertainment business.  Emma placed seventh on the list.

The young actress has three movies scheduled to be released over the next year — Wild Child, Hotel for Dogs and Lymelife.

Emma’s mom is Kelly Cunningham.

Source: TV Guide; Photo by Jen Lowery/Startraks.

Musician Ziggy Marley, son of reggae legend Bob Marley, took his two youngest children — Judah Victoria, 3, and Gideon Robert Nesta, 17 months — to check out the animals at the Los Angeles Zoo on Sunday. Ziggy, 39, and wife Orly are also parents to son Daniel and daughters Justice and Zuri.

Photo by GM/Flynetonline.com.

A celebrity baby herself, Nicole Richie, 26, is reflecting back on her own childhood for ideas on how she plans to raise her 5-month-old daughter Harlow Winter Kate differently.  Nicole, who says her parents — singer Lionel Richie and ex-wife Brenda  — were "really really strict," explained that she hopes to be more easy-going with Harlow.  However, she may be just like them, as the reality star admits, "you never know until it happens to you!"

Although Nicole recalls a stern upbringing, she can’t deny the fact that she was blessed with "amazing parents" and has "great people to turn to if I ever need advice."  Spending "three or four times a week" with her mom and "once a week" with her dad leaves Nicole and her boyfriend, Good Charlotte’s Joel Madden, with no shortage of advice or parenting tips.  In fact, each one has someone to look to in that department.  Says Nicole,

[My dad] comes from a father standpoint.  He gives Joel a lot of advice.  I get advice from my mom.

Source: Extra; photo by NME.

Do you think you’re raising your kids the same way you were raised?  Or have you taken a completely different approach?